The Amp Garage

You both are quite correct about the power supply layout. I have looked at the power supply layout of the amp "Ginger" which I didn't like at all. I also have looked at various clone amps, and the thing which is instantly noticeable is that everyone copies the board layout, but no one copies the pow...

I haven't experimented with these caps in an Express or a Liverpool clone, but according to this post on 18watt.com, perhaps these caps could work quite well in a Trainwreck clone. I should point out that I'm quite happy with the Xiron type caps that I have in the Rocket type clone. With all the tal...

Dear Chris I had been meaning to shoot off an email to you and Matt, but for some reason whenever I send messages to you they keep bouncing back to me. At this point in time I'm building an 18 watt (mini bluesbreaker) Marshall. I've only heard good things about them and there is so much around in th...

Chris

Did you ever go to that studio in NYC and A/B your amps against the real thing?

It's the acid test. I hope to do it one day.

I hope someone with a real Express or Liverpool amp attends Chris.

I think your amps will give the real thing a run for there money, or be better!

I heard that the output transformer was originally 6.6K primary with M19 steel. I have heard that the 5.2K primary also sounds very good. I'm not too sure what Doug Holt ended up with. The last time I sent him an email he told me the transformer that he liked was a transformer with a 5K primary and ...

Dear Chris

The Liverpool amp looks great!

One question though, what is the measurement of the lamination on the front of the amp?

I thought the lamination was the same size and the height of the chassis. Of course I could be wrong.

Yours Sincerely

Mark Abbott.

Dear Ross and Tube dog I think the point I didn't make is this, I don't mind working out what I think works and doesn't work in putting together an amplifier, but I do mind when someone is blowing smoke up my rear end, an example of this is of course the Express co-ax story. This is definitely an at...

Like with everything it is the easiest to get the quick and dirty 90% of things. The last 10% often costs the most and/or takes the most time. Most people are 90%-er's. Dear Ross I do feel the 90% area is where we need the help, I feel amp layout is far more important than the colour of the wire use...

I think one thing we should do on this page is to record the levels of change incurred when building these amps. What I mean by this is what wires in the amps layout make the greatest difference in the tonal response of the amplifier. What valves work best in the amp, I have noticed that the guys at...

Dear TJ

Regretably, I have been very busy with a couple of different builds of late, not mention work.

I will have to line up my friend with the recorder soon, and lay down those tracks.

Yours Sincerly

Mark Abbott.

Dear Bob Richie Hall did something like what you describe to a Marshall 30 watt amp. I believe that one channel was the 18 watt Marshall's normal channel and the other channel was the Express channel. You might also want to check out the Climax circuits, this should give you some idea's. I hope this...

Dear Snide

I too would be interested in seeing these Komet pictures.

Yours Sincerely

Mark Abbott.

I do realise that any AC-30 type transformer would cut it in this circuit, however I'm somewhat curious if the Rocket uses an output transformer similar to the ones used in the Express and Liverpool amps.

Love to hear all theories and opinions.

Thanks for your help.

Yours Sincerely

Mark Abbott.

The amp is a prototype, so it's not a pretty thing to look at. Regarding the build, I put all the amp components on a second version of the Rocket layout that I have yet to post, it's pretty much the same layout minus the 33K input resistor which I mounted directly on the valve socket, I also left o...